Florida Launch

Major League Lacrosse (2014-2018)

Background

The Florida Launch were an outdoor lacrosse team based out of Boca Raton, Florida. The team never quite found its footing either on or off the field in South Florida, managing one winning season in five years and typically ranking near the bottom of Major League Lacrosse attendance rankings, with a core following of only about 1,500 fans per game.

New Balance Founder and CEO Jim Davis, the largest financial benefactor of Major League Lacrosse, owned the Launch franchise for its entire run.

2017 Peak

The Launch’s best campaign was their fourth season during the summer of 2017. The team posted their only winning record (8-6) and made their lone playoff appearance, losing the Steinfeld Trophy semi-final to the eventual champion Ohio Machine. Attendance peaked at a franchise record 2,298 per game, though crowds still fell well short the MLL average of 3,844.

Tom Mariano earned MLL Coach-of-the-Year honors. Defenseman Tucker Durkin was named the league’s Defensive Player-of-the-Year for 2017.

In 2018 the Launch reverted to form and finished tied for 7th place in the 9-team MLL with a 5-9 record.

Demise

After playing their first five seasons (mostly) at FAU Stadium on the campus of Florida Atlantic University, the Launch announced plans to move 20 minutes south to 20,000-seat Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill for the 2019 season.

But on April Fools’ Day 2019, Major League Lacrosse announced the league would shrink from 9 to 6 franchises for the 2019 season. Florida was out, contracted along with the Charlotte Hounds and the Ohio Machine.

Trivia

The Launch’s mascot was named Apollo.

Florida Launch Video

Florida Launch host the Charlotte Hounds at FAU Stadium. May 3, 2014

Downloads

2017 Florida Launch Media Guide

2018 Florida Launch Media Guide

Links

Major League Lacrosse Media Guides

Major League Lacrosse Programs

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